Our family is saddened...

On Sunday evening, our friend/family from Kadena gave us a call to inform us that another friend had lost his life late Friday, early Saturday in Washington D.C. riding his motorcycle, head on with a semi. We were saddened and were in shock to hear this. While being in Okinawa for 4 years, we had made great friends, that we now call our Oki family. When being overseas and being so far away from your real family you develop your own family in the military throughout all the bases you are brought to. He was a good friend and we were ALL sad to lose him. We shed tears for him, his son, his family, and his friends. He was closest to Charles, his best friend, in Kadena... it was hard to hear from him talking about how he just talk to him the week prior and how they had made plans to visit each other in the next couple months and hang out like the old times. As the years have passed, we've all moved to different places once again... and hearing something like this makes us so mad we're not closer to each other. Michael took it hard, and as did i... i couldn't stop crying... i still couldn't believe it... but in time our hearts will heal. Now it's time to cherish and remember all the great memories. You always be remembered Lamar Robinson!! May you rest in peace!! We love you!!

He is the one in the green shirt in the picture...

Please... if you have a motorcyle, ride one... whatever ... PLEASE RIDE CAUTIOUSLY!! BE CAREFUL!!!

It's been awhile...

It's been awhile since i've blogged....

Kinda forgot about it since i've been home. I was busy trying to get myself and the boys settled in. I've been trying to re-organize the house and somewhat have done it for the most part. The boys are still not moved but it really doesn't matter since the baby is in our room. My babies usually are until they are 1... right next to the bed in a playpen. Which Michael really needs to put his crib together because the playpen needs to come downstairs... he's 4 months old now and has been rolling over... so he's not too safe on the couch these days.

Summer is here... the boys have been out of school for a month now and it seems school starts so soon... it seems to be right around the corner. It's been going by fast!! They've enjoyed the break so far and so have I... i like getting to sleep in. Even Ma'Kai lets me sleep... what an awesome baby. They've all been awesome babies!!

A lot of my friends have been leaving the island, going on vacation and everyone asks if we're going anywhere. LOL... Are you kidding??? We spent 3 months state-side and out bank still hasn't recovered from it!! Hahaha... hopefully I can plan a trip to Naples before school starts or even maybe when it does, since I won't be taking the kids. I just need someone to go with me on that 2 day trip. I hope I can make it... at least before I leave here. Less than a year left.... WOW!! Although, I hated this place in the beginning... i've come to enjoy it and made lots of great friends. Military life is never something to get used to... making great friends, that turn into your family away from home... and then having to leave. And hope to one day see them again!! We're still trying to get back stateside so that we can see our "family" from Fairchild AFB who is spread all over the US!!! A reunion has to take place...

That's it for now... hopefully, i remember to get on this more. I love to write about things...

Glad to be home...

After a long 3 months... i enjoyed being with my friends and my family, but it was definitely time to come home and be back with my husband and get settled in our home with our newest addition.

When left Friday, the 14th, my Mom flew with us to BWI which was very helpful. We ended up not getting there until after midnight and by the time we got our suitcases... we still had to wait another 30 minutes for Ma'Kai's carseat and stroller to come. We were supposed to go to a hotel but I told my Mom that it would be a waste of money if we went for a couple of hours. I was traveling on command sponsorship, it's PCS season, I needed 4 seats, and there are only 25 available all together. SO the earliest i can mark myself present was 430am... and i wanted to be there... so we stayed at the USO... the baby slept, my Mom too... the boys, well they weren't too tire cuz they slept on the planes... the one from Seattle to Nashville, then to BWI... but they were still great... finally they started to get tired and took about an hour nap before i woke them up for us to start waiting by the Space-A terminal...

So we had ourselves signed up and ready to go... I knew that we were good... there was no one there... but i wasn't getting my hopes up... I was going to wait until 830 to do that... but i didn't have to... the guy came looking for me to stamp my paper; APPROVED!! We were ready!!!

So, we got our stuff together,had a cigg with my Mom, ( i know bad habit i picked back up) and i went to the bathroom before getting on the plane. I hate plane bathrooms... i'm back enough with public bathrooms all together but to be in a small confined place too... no thanks... lol. While i went to the bathroom I called Michael... from lack of sleep... (literally at least 48 hours of no sleep if not more) I decided that i was going to tell him we didn't get on... he was sad... he was for sure we were getting on... (hehehe) then i told him, i'd call him back... 30 minutes later... i call back... play along for another 5 minutes, and i finally told him that we were waiting to board. He didn't think it was too funny... he said I wasn't very nice... i guess i was being a little devious in a way, lol.

So, we boarded and the boys pretty much went right to sleep and slept the entire way... I had to wake them up. We got into Lajes way early... like 2 hours... it was very unexpected... because the planes don't usually come in until 930ish if not way later... Of course Michael wasn't there when we got there... i had to call him from someone else's cell since I locked myself out mine... and he took FOREVER to get there... lol. It literally take less than 5 minutes to get there and we waited 30 minutes!!! Turns out, he was cleaning the house as best as he could and cooking dinner... but all he got to make was rice and corn... lol.

We weren't very tired and so we went to a friends house for a small get together...

Since then... i've managed to organize a little... see some friends... and get the boys back into school for the rest of the year.

It's so nice to be in my own home, in my bed, using my own stuff... cooking in my own kitchen...

More to deal with...

I should've known... i should've know that my trip home would go as smoothly as planned. Why would it?? From the beginnning, since i found out I was pregnant, i've had to go through so many obstacles and apparently there more to come...

So it starts with the passport issues... and at the end... i could've taken care of that when i first found out I was pregnant too. They kept telling me I had to renew my (Philippine) passport in person. I coudln't do over the mail like i did the last time because they had a new policy. So, i'm stressing trying to figure out what to do, when to leave, where to go... probably half the reason why i didn't gain but 6 pounds by 8 months. Anyway... so i finally decide, i'm coming home. The EMLs take 3 weeks... but i get it. It was a good trip to Baltimore then back here, WA. First things first... as pregnant as i was... i was trying to get everything done before the baby came... and i know i was really supposed to be resting but there was just too much to do. I get here and start the passport process and they tell me... "Oh, Ma'am, you can just do that over the mail." WHAT!? You mean to tell me I could have done this 6 months ago?? I was relieved because i didn't have to go anywhere (CA). But pissed off... cuz really?? It could have been done already!! Then I would not have had to go through all that freaking stress!!

So, now... of course, EMLs... of course mine has expired (Apr. 30). Gotta get new ones... Michael's working on it and today he emails me saying that there is a problem. So he calls me as he gets home from work and he tells me that they won't give him any. He can't get anymore EMLs. You get 2 in a year?? Why not?? They tell him that we can travel without him. He has to be with us in order to get back to Lajes... WHAT!!?? OMG!! What else... ?? Basically, that's all we know right now. He's going to get a hold of the commander and see what he can do.

I am still planning on leaving here (WA) on the 14th and flying out to BWI. My Mom is flying out there with to help me with the kids and the luggage, so that's a plus. Hopefully we get on that plane May 15th... the boys are really missing their Daddy and so am I.

It's OFFICIAL!!

I've got my passport!!!

This is me----->

HAPPY!! LOL!!

Good News!!

So, Monday, I get a phone call saying that TaShaun and Ma'Kai's passports were ready to be picked up. I'm relieved and excited all at the same time. But then irritated because my passport wasn't here yet and I put mine in almost 3 weeks before...

So yesterday, I call to find out what going on. All i get is ringing and ringing... so i keep calling and finally someone answers, then of course i get transferred... because it's never an easy process... then i get voicemail!! OMG!! Really?? LOL... (i'm laughing now... )

Anyway... I get a 5 second phone call this morning... saying they sent it out yesterday (04/27) so i should get it today or tomorrow!! YAY!! It's sent out express... so i know i'm getting it...

I am SO excited to finally get to go home. Get settled in and figure out a new routine with Ma'Kai and the other two boys. At least with summer around the corner, we don't have to get up for school. By the time we get back to Lajes... they don't have to go to school for the rest of year. But i think I am going to have them go anyway... we'll see how it goes.

So now... the best part... ha ha ha... time to get everything organized and packed and shipped out!! This is going to be a task. We've been here 2 months and we've accumulated more than we came with. After all... there's another person we've added to our family, lol. At least this time around, we won't be so crowded in our house. We were crowded in our house in Kadena and there were only the 4 of us... but this is another 3 bedroom house, this time... lots of space.

Ok, so i had to share... took a cute pic of Ma'Kai today doing his famous "one-eyed" look

Ma'Kai Julian

Ma'Kai is 6 weeks old today. It feels like I just had him yesterday but yet he is almost 2 months old. My precious baby. He's so cute.

Everyone's been asking of details from when i went into labor and i haven't gotten a chance to tell it. I've told some, but i'm tired of repeating it, lol. Unfortunately, i have no pictures to post but these because Michael has taken the cord to my hard drive back to Lajes and I am still in WA.

He was due, March 26 but I knew he was coming sooner than that. The boys and I got here from Lajes the week of February 22. It wasn't a bad trip. The boys were a big help as I thought they would be. They should know how to travel by now, lol. As pregnant as I was... we were slow getting everywhere but we made it.

Michael had to test for Tech, so he couldn't leave the island until the 12th of March. He took the 1st plane out of Lajes and to McGuire. When we looked at plane tickets it was almost $200 cheaper for him to come on a weekday... so he decided he was just going to drive to North Carolina from McGuire and spend time with his family. I had no problem with it, just hoped he would get to me on time. But just as long as he was on state-side grounds, I was good. So we decided, he would fly into Sea-Tac Tuesday night.

So Monday comes around, I talk to Michael. His Uncles decided they wanted to take him out that night before he left. I go to bed... I roll over at about 5 in the morning and i feel a gush. Lol. i literally did roll over... i was trying to get out of bed to go use the bathroom... so i went. It was still coming. I looked down at my stomach and said "Really?? We are supposed to pick your Dad up at the airport tonight?" I stand there for a minute... and it's still coming. So I get my stuff together... get changed, get cleaned up. Basically, i am taking my time. I take a pic of the boys and a pic of me... then i go and wake up my Mom. She wakes up my Dad, and we head out to Madigan.

I finally get there, it's after 6am, because like I said, I like to take my time, and Madigan is 10 minutes away from my parents house. I was thinking, I should've had my Dad stop by McDonalds before we go there. But oh well... I was hungry. I just knew it was going to be a long day. So around 7am, my Dad's in the waiting area waiting... lol... I had the nurse tell him he can go home. He had to work later that morning and i would call if i needed him.

So i was by my lonesome at the hospital... that's never happened before. It was actually really peaceful and it didn't bother me at all. My Mom, the responsible grandparent, had the boys skip school that day... of course, and they came out around 1130. I guess my Mom was thinking the whole time that I had baby and when they got there, the boys were looking for him. Nope not yet... by that point I was at a 4... they expected me to have the baby around 7pm-10pm that night... hahaha... LOL. Like I said, I was at a 4. The pain was tolerable, so the anesthesiologist was going to do 2 before me. So while I waited, I told my Mom to take the boys and get some lunch, i was probably gonna nap and i would call her. Still at a 4... I talked to Michael... he was headed to the airport...

I think i might have taken a little nap... in and out for about an hour... then the pain was starting to get ot me... but i could still tolerate it. Of course, there was an emergency C-Section so the anesthesiologist wasn't available. What felt like hours was on 20 minutes... but in those 20 minutes I got to a 7 and the pain was getting worse. So she finally came in to give me my epidural. I did NOT like her too much. She took her time and she sure didn't listen. She kept telling me that she would stop when i was having a contraction but yet when i was she was yelling at me to sit up straight and don't move... in my mind... she was lucky i was contracting and it hurt cuz i wanted to turn around and punch her... it was that annoying. LOL.. Finally I get the freakin' epidural. In 10 minutes... that button was pushed 5 times... i felt it going down my back... but the pain was not going anywhere... it was getting worse. All i could do was close my eyes... I don't know what this feels like... I was numb with the other two. OMG... I was in pain!! The epidural wasn't working... I kept telling them i feel like pushing... in a 10 minute time frame, i was checked (7) and got an epidural , then checked... and ready to push. He was born at 1:34 pm on March 16th. NO ONE was there... but it was all good. I tried to call Michael but he was dropped off at the airport with phone. His cousin found out before he did... lol. The phone was ringing and ringing... during the pushing part... still don't know who it was. Luckily, he called before he boarded... and I asked him if he heard what was in the backround... he was disappointed he wasn't there. But wasn't surprised, of course.

I am glad I had the whole day to myself because after the baby... my Mom, brother, mother-in-law, tashaun, ja'mari, eleena, dante, and nikki were at the hospital... for the rest of the evening... until Michael got there finally at 10pm.

So it was a long story... so i'm glad i got to write it down. There's details missing... but i made it short, lol.

That was a painful delivery I might say. I could honestly say... I can go through it again and be fine... but who wants to?? If I don't have to feel the pain... i'm all for it... but it took me a long time to recover from that. I could barely walk without pain even 2 weeks after the baby. Everything was so different with pregnancy, labor, and postpartum.

Chat's Baby Shower

One of best friends, all the way back since we were 8 years old!! So she's more of a sister... part of my family always. I am so happy for Andy and Chat. They are having their first little girl due the end of June. Let's go for JUNE 12... my birthday!! =p

I was so happy to spend some time with her. We always end up so busy whenever I am back in town that we don't always get to see each other. So when we get a chance, we take advantage of it. Unfortunately, this time around, we sadly lost Chat's Grandmother, who we called Inda. She will always be missed. She was like my Grandma too... she took care of me when I was little. It was hard to hear and see... and right before such a wonderful blessing. As God takes one away, he graciously gives us another precious life, and that will be this wonderful little girl in June. Sadly, I don't think I will be here to meet her when she arrives. But I sure will when i come back into town. One of the downsides of military life, you tend to miss special events... something you never get used to, but appreciate everything that is given us.

Do the Puyallup!!

I was excited about the Puyallup Spring Fair. Not as great as the one they have in the fall but it's still somewhere I can take the kids and know that they are going to have a blast. We don't have things like this overseas... The one in the fall is even better, more rides, more games, and more food!! Downside..,. more people, lol. But it's still fun... it's where Michael and I met... long story and you might already know. If you don't you will sometime... lol.

So we went on a Thursday, after school. It was students get in free night. It turned out to be a great day because it was raining all day, so afternoon turned out to be awesome. So I go and pick Ja'Mari up from school and we go to TaShaun's school and wait for him to get out.
He's so silly. Always making these crazy faces...
Oh my, it took us FOREVER to get to the fair. After picking up the boys from school, we had to go home and get the baby, Grandma, AJ, and his friend, Marcus. Yes, it took forever... we didn't head out the door until after 4pm and my Mom had to go to the bank first. It was Thursday, everyone is about to get off work and we're about hit traffic really bad. That we did... so we finally get to the fair and it was almost 630pm.

First things first... boys are SO excited. Before we got there, they were talking about riding all the rides and playing all the games. Remembering when i brought them a couple of years back to the fall fair and the rides they rode then. So we get tickets and off they went... to each ride. Good thing... great thing... NO lines!!

They pretty much ride every ride. i think they did ride all the rides. There were only 6 of them. They rode on the boats that they were reminising about before we got there.

The baby, so cute... as always... all he did was sleep. I think he came out of the warm, snuggly car seat once... to eat. He wasn't even happy about that... lol. Always with those lips... that one picture reminds of Dr. Evil...lol.

So after the rides, we met back up with AJ and his friend and had dinner. The boys had corn dogs... that cost $5 i might add... lol... wow!! I had some of their awesome famous scones earlier so i wasn't too hungry but tried to eat a chicken basket. Afterwards the boys played some games. I think i played one game, to win a prize for one of them... and i think it was TaShaun. But they played the games themselves and won prizes. TaShaun came home with 4 stuffed animals Ja'Mari, 5.

After the rides were ridden and the games had been played... and $200 later... we bought some cotton candy and headed home!!

Proud Brothers

So happy to have a new baby. Ja'Mari even more excited about being a big brother!!

Easter 2010

For Easter this year we got to spend family. Let's see, it's about 5-6 years since we've had Easter together. I did my annual egg hunt. We put out about 250 eggs plus every family that came brought 2 dozen eggs... i think we had about 300 eggs out there if not more.

Everyone came out. My in-laws, cousins, Aunts, and family friends. Of course, I was so busy I didn't get to catch up as much as I wanted. But I was glad to see everyone again. It definitely brought back a lot of memories.


The kids got to paint easter eggs. It was nice to have Sarraya around to join her brothers. And Ayeanna, my niece, growing up too fast. The oldest of the bunch... painted eggs with them too.

Usually during the hunt, i have a couple "prize" eggs but this year, my Mom wanted to go all out and make every kid coming to the party an easter basket. Of course, Sarraya, TaShaun, Ja'Mari, and Ma'Kai got a little extra in theirs. Ayeanna... like i said, she's grown... at least she thinks she is... was too grown for an easter basket but she still wanted something... lol. So, Grandma took her out to pick something. In total i made 12 buckets...

Of course, it is what i do... i cooked everything. I wanted to, and you know how much food we Filipinos always have lol. It was great... on the menu: ribs, chicken, pancit, lumpia, potato salad, and mac and cheese. Some people brought something too. My BFF, Eleena, brought me some taquitos!! Mmm... i haven't eaten her taquitos in years... it was great. Banana pudding, cookies, cupcakes, and OMG... my Dad brings home this awesome cake filled and topped with fresh fruit and whipped icing and the cake was so moist. It makes my mouth water just talking about it, it was so good.

We had a really good Easter. Happy to spend it with family and friends.

Sarraya meets Ma'Kai

Michael and my Dad took a road trip to pick up Sarraya and my Dad tagged along to see his friend from high school. They got it after midnight and Sarraya was so happy to meet his new baby brother. She was so excited to hold him.

Little moments with TaShaun...

I've always tried to spend one on one with the boys. So when I get a chance I take advantage of it. Before the baby was born, i tried to do it a lot, and just spend time with them. It's always just me and the boys anyway, but as long as they like hanging out with their Mom... it's all good. I get my little time with Ja'Mari everyday after school. Since he gets out of school at 3pm i get the time until 330 to talk to him a little bit. Ja'Mari and I usually get alone time a lot... so i got a chance to be alone with TaShaun after school a couple of weeks ago.

It was a nice day out and he wanted to ride his scooter. The baby was asleep and Ja'Mari must have been tired because he didn't want to go outside at all. I just watched him go back and forth on his scooter. He was showing some tricks that he learned. We had small conversations, typical... asking about school and friends.

He's so cute... going up and the the side of the street on his scooter. Going really fast and doing jumps and making sure i was looking every time. I mentioned i should get my camera and he agreed. So i got up and went and got my camera and took a few pictures. I enjoyed my time with my baby... as always.

Being back in WA...

I have had this blog account set up for months now. But i haven't gotten a chance to do it. Honestly, i forgot about it, lol. So bare with me as i write and try to keep up and learn how to use this and get pics up. So I have officially been back in the state of Washington for 2 months... in those two months i've spent too much money, lots of errands, and had a baby, lol. I came back home to have Ma'kai here because i thought it would be easier. All in all... it has been... i've had lots of help from my family and very thankful. But yet i didn't expect to here this long. It's just overwhelming sometimes. Having a new baby... of course... it's been 4 years but i've been at home. In my own environment, with my own things. I would like to get back to Lajes and get set in a new routine, with baby added to it. As busy as i kept myself already... it's going to be busier with Ma'Kai. But since we've been home, we've enjoyed being with family. The boys love being with grandparents and cousins. Something they're not used to. They haven't gotten a chance to be with them this long. I'm glad they are bonding. TaShaun and Ja'Mari has been going to school since we've been here also. TaShaun likes his school so far so good. No complaints... just the normal ones about not wanting to go to bed or wake up in the morning, or going to school at all. Ja'Mari on the other hand... he absolutely loves his school. He's going to Kindercare. We've both liked it so far. He likes it, because he just loves to be around kids... learning and doing games and activities. I like it because he's actually learning something. I had to make sure that he's not playing all day because that's not what we're paying for. I want him to learn and he's eager to do it. SO while the boys are in school during the day, Ma'Kai and I chill at home. Most of the time he's sleeping and i'm bored. But when i get up to do something is when he wants to wake up... lol. Its so funny... babies are built with a sensor... i'm telling you... they know exactly when you are about to eat, shower, etc...